Shopping Your Stash!

No not that stash, er, those stashes! I mean the collection of makeup you've assembled. I get that a lot of companies come out with new collections each season, but some shades, most shades, can be mixed into each season seamlessly. 

This week I'm delving into grays and mink tones. I think these shades are so flattering for all skin types and can work for a daytime look and then pumped up for night.

For this look, I'm also test driving Maybellines newish Fit foundation. It is a liquid foundation with buildable coverage that comes in a wide array of colors. There is literally a shade for all!

Starting with a fresh face, apply foundation, concentrating on areas that are uneven or on that pesky redness. (Fun fact, my predictable text wanted me to use "redneck" instead. Heh, those pesky rednecks won't be silenced by Maybelline!)

Don't worry about concealer yet, we will go there later! 

Because we're starting with a fresh canvass for face, as seem in the top left pic, you'll also want a fresh canvass for eyes. I like to use Milk Jumbo Eye Pencil by NYX. I like to use this especially with grays and cooler tones on the eyes because I tend to have dark circles. Milk is a creamy white matte shade that brightens the lid, so that when you use darker shades, they stand out rather than bringing attention to dark under eyes.

Next, grab an eye contour brush and apply a matte gray tone. I'm using Print by MAC. For this I'm only focusing on the cease and blending down on the lash line. You don't want the traditional "v", with equal amounts of pigment, rather, you want a gradient effect.

Next, take a clean shadow brush and dip into a matte or satin lavender shade. This one is Antique Lilac by Coastal Scents, a sample from an IPSY bag. Apply shadow to the lid only, tapping gently up to the crease. Again, we are going for a gradient effect, so be careful not to create definite lines.

Using your Milk pencil again, apply a touch of it to the inner corners of the eye to really brighten up your look. Blend with your finger tips.

For this look I don't want a heavy line, so I'm just defining the outer corners of the top and bottom lash lines with a navy blue pencil. For this I used Denim by Jordana. Navy is a softer alternative to black or brown and also brightens the eyes up without screaming "I'm wearing blue liner!!!".

Save your mascara till the end!

Apply a lip balm to prep your lips. I am using Baby Lips in Peach.

Next take your bronzer, I'm using NYX Mosaic Bronzer, and apply in a 3 shape. What does this mean? It means starting at your temples, sweep around and down to the tops of your outer cheek, the across to your hair line and around down to your jaw line. Basically the shape of a "3". After wards, blend with a kabuki brush. 

Then grab a clean powder blush and instead of a loose powder, I like to use a pressed powder for a softer look. Dust powder on the top of the forehead, bridge of the nose and top of cheeks and chin. This also will help blend your bronzer so people won't sing "3 is a magic number!", gleefully behind your back!

Next, grab a blush brush and use a satiny pink blush. I really love Wet N Wilds Pearlescent Pink. I never expected to have a W n W item as a holy grail item, but here we are. Just apply to the top of your cheeks. No smiling and apples bs, just the top of your cheeks. Specifically, take two fingers and place against your nose, the one that's tapping on your cheek bone, is where you want the blush. Apply in swirling motions, outward so that it blends into the bronzer.

After I apply my face, yes, my face, I take my kabuki brush and go over my face so that everything is blended properly. I like to blend product on my jaw line down my neck so there's not a huge difference between my face and the rest of me. No "faces on a stick"!

Lips are the final touch! Baby Lips by Maybelline is great for moisture and sheer color, but the peach shade is going to act more as a base for this look.

Using MAC's Stripdown pencil (Spice is a great one for more of the lighter skin tones), use soft strokes to define the lip. Using a lip brush, apply a light pink satin or matte lipstick. My fave and the one I used for this look, is Angel, also by MAC. If you want a bit of a gloss but don't want to look like you've been gnawing on a chicken wing, use a touch of gloss on the center of the lip. It gives you a bit of shine but also creates the illusion of a fuller lip! I used Peach Petal by Revlon in their Super Lustrous line. It is a dupe for MAC's Underage, so if you already have it, shop your stash!

Throw on some concealer under the eyes and blend with your finger tips. If you are oily, dust a bit of powder before applying mascara.

Voila!

This is simple and really chic for summer. I love that its not the stereotypical candy colors for summer, but soft, defined and classic.

Have fun!